Debunking the Debunker: Epic Derailing of a Climate Change Denier
#7 – Myth: You can create your own solar panel through DIY websites
Speaking of “so pathetic in their power generation,” the typical coal plant is only about 34 percent efficient. That is not a stellar percentage, and while it may be better than the photovoltaic panels on today’s market, aggressive research into solar power generation has only been going on for about a decade. Coal, oil and gas have had many times that, but are only leaving us with dirty land, water and skies—including beheaded mountaintops, deathly gulfs and acid rain.
In summation, what we have in our debunker is someone unable to see beyond the end of his nose, ignoring or distancing himself from the goings-on of the outside world, and thus developing a tunnel-vision way of seeing things. He trades compassion, empathy, or even reason, for a self-serving perception of the world at large. If it is cheaper, it is better…that is it.
To his credit, though, this outlook is certainly not “fluid.” No, the Unknown Conservative Blogger’s “Fantasyland” is most definitely under a rock.
To My Fellow Solar Enthusiasts:
Have no fear of the likes of UCB. There have always been people afraid of or resistant to change, especially when large sums of money are involved. A prime example: It took British cities until the 1920′s to switch from gas lamp to much more reliable and efficient electric street lighting. Why? Because local governments were heavily invested in gas lighting and put regulatory obstacles in the way of the electric competition (from Guns, Germs and Steel: Fates of Human Societies, Diamond, 1997). Nowadays it tends to be corporations and “incorporated” politicians who stand in the way of progress, but just as electric lighting took over, so too will solar electricity have its day in the sun, along with wind, geothermal and other renewable resources.
Photo Credit: Anorak, Inhabitat, & Oregon Live
Posted on August 17th in Solar Information by Dan.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:25 am
I am pro-solar, pro-wind, pro-renewables, pro-energy efficiency, pro-recycling and I am pro-Rush , pro-America . 100% against the enemy fraud King oumgbama, Pelosi, Reid, communism and izlamic supremacy.
I drive a hybrid, a bicycle (when possible) and I am energy efficient to the max. So there ! Another myth busted.
By ignorantly painting the world black and white, you paint yourself into a corner.
BTW, I am not a republican nor a real blind idiot democrat.
August 18th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
We’re not trying to paint the issue B&W at all…just this one example of a single conservative closing his/her eyes to the world. In no way are we saying that all conservatives think or act this way. I am very happy that you’re pro-renewable energy. Despite anyone’s beliefs on climate change, it just makes sense to move toward alternative energy. It cuts down on pollution in the air we all breathe, it reduces our dependency on foreign oil and that finicky group OPEC, takes money that trickles down to extremists in that region away, and is a safer option (no heading miles offshore for drilling or fear of being trapped in a cave with no escape)! Thanks for your input, always appreciated.
August 20th, 2010 at 9:59 am
I posed this comment to the conservative’s blog:
Those pennies you pay per watt of electricity? Those are artificially low. Those prices are kept down by some 70 billion in subsidies to the fossil fuel industries. Most of that money goes to oil, to keep gas prices artificially low (and oil companies profits artificially high).
The subsidies for green energy are minuscule compared to the money this country is hemorrhaging into burning more hydrocarbons. Which is completely unnecessary since we can get all the power we need free from the sun.
August 23rd, 2010 at 3:56 pm
How anyone can proudly state they’re “pro-Rush” is beyond me….
September 6th, 2010 at 9:36 am
This is definitely a sensitive and passionate topic. But for the original article at hand, Taylen’s myth debunkings don’t require global warming to be a reality. They don’t require that we are adding and must offset any percentage of emissions. Preparing against such things is just a nice—nay, _awesome_—side effect of using a cleaner energy.
Forget names, forget political lines, forget any sort of labels. If the end result is power _and_ a cleaner place to live and breathe, even by 1.5% or .75% or 98% or .001%, I’d say we’re doing something right. A lot of somethings.
I posted a longer comment at ol’ no-name’s, but this is the gist of it.
September 6th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Glad to see the troops rally! Thanks for your help in debunking, fellow solar advocates! Ken, you have an excellent point. The cheap fossil fuels is only because government is footing most of the bill to keep it cheap for everyone. Nim, you nailed the gist of the story. Despite your beliefs on global warming, why not use an energy source that won’t run out until the sun goes out (at which point it won’t matter because it’s taking Earth with it)!